Authorities are searching for two suspects who killed a Cadiz man whose body was found Friday in Sally Buffalo Park.

The suspects are Matthew Dowdle, 24, of Hopedale, and Eve Irene Kelley, 33, whose last known address was in Wintersville, Cadiz Police Chief Ryan McCann said. He added that both suspects have an extensive criminal background and remained at large Saturday night.

The victim is Joseph Strothers, 45, of Cadiz. An autopsy has been performed, but McCann declined to immediately release the cause of death or extent of injuries.

The chief said that the three people knew one another, but he was uncertain about their relationship or that of the two suspects. No motive has been established.

Dowdle has two very visible tear drop tattoos below his left eye, McCann said.

“He has a lot of tattoos, including some on his throat and large letters of c-a-s-h on his right hand, and f-l-o-w on his left hand,” the chief said.

Dowdle is described as a skinny, white man, 6-foot-1 and 188 pounds, with close-cropped brown hair and hazel eyes.

“We’ve dealt with him several times,” McCann said. “We would consider him dangerous, but I don’t have any proof now that he has any weapons. I’m not aware of any previous weapons charges.

“He’s originally from Hopedale, but doesn’t currently have a permanent address that we know about. He might’ve just got out of jail not too long ago. I know he was booked into Harrison County Jail on Aug. 4, 2013.”

Kelley is described as a white woman, 5-foot-6 and 165 pounds with brown hair and green eyes.

The pair left Cadiz in the victim’s black Honda, and drove to Bridgeport, where the car became stuck in a ditch.

About 2 a.m., Dowdle, “who was wearing a multi-colored toboggan, was going around knocking on doors and asking for a chain,” McCann said. “Someone called Bridgeport police, and when they arrived, the suspects ran into the woods. Bridgeport police tried to track them, but couldn’t find them.”

At that point, Bridgeport police were unaware of the homicide in Cadiz, he added.

The pair then is believed to have stolen a white, 2006 Chevrolet Trail Blazer, with light front-end damage and a cracked windshield, McCann said.

“That was stolen sometime after 2 a.m. from the lot at Certified Auto Recovery near Bridgeport, in Belmont County,” McCann said. “That’s what we think they’re driving now.”

McCann said it was believed that Strothers was killed in the park between shelters No. 2 and No. 3. He said the crime scene spanned 300 yards.

Page 2 of 2 - A walker in the park called police at 4:59 p.m. Friday after seeing the body. Agents of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Cadiz police processed the crime scene.

WTOV-TV9, a news partner of The Times-Reporter, contributed to this story. Channel 9 broadcasts from Steubenville.